Car-coupling



RQ G. DOBBS.

om GGUPLING.

(No Model.)

lliviTnn STnTns nTnnT @Trina ORCOUPLlNG.

SPECIIETCATION forming part of Letters Patent No.- 356,626, datedJanuary 2,5, 1887.

Application filed December 9, 1386.

b MZ whom may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD C. Dones, a citizen of the United States,residing at Guttenberg, in the count-y of Hudson and State oi' NewJersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplings, ofwhich tbe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in earcouplings, as fully setforth in thefollow ing speeiieation and eiaims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings,.in whicli- Figure 1 is a. plan view of a box-oarand a platform-ear containing my invention. Fig. .2 is a side elevation,partly in senti on, ofFig. l.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

ln the drawings, the letter A designates a bonner, and B a platforincar,said cars being coupled together by clutelies G C. The clutches C areconnected to the draw-bars E. Each draw-bar Il is connected by a pivot,F, to a slide, G, movable on rods or ways H, rmly seeured to tbe ear.Springs l, suitably applied or fixed on the ways H, hold the slide G ina fixed position ou the ways H. When said slide G is moved eitherforward or backward in consequence ofthe ear being suddenly startedforward or backward through power applied at the clutch C, the springs ltake up the shock of suoli starting.

The pivot F allows the clutch C to swing aside, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1, so that the oars may be uncouplell from one an other. .ilslot, J, in the draw-bar E allows of inaliing a movable conneet-iou--as,for enani-A ple, byu pin or hook between the draw-bar E and the bar lil.A pivet, O, connects thebar K to the lever M, and by swinging the leverM away from the side of the ear to theposition indicated in dotted linesin Fig. l the end N of the lever hl, striking 4against the side of tliecar,will draw the clutch G aside, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.l. As the lever M is placed at suoi] a height as to be accessible to anoperator standing on the ground alongside of the our, the ear can bereadily uncoupled withoutv its being necessary for the operator toinountonto the car. A spring1 L, suitably applied, tends to hold theclutch C in its coupling position. (Shown in full lines inl Fig, l.) .esseen in Fig. 2, the draw-bar E,

Serial No. Q'Zlji. (No model.)

.by being made forked, will engagel the pivot F above and below theslide G, thus bringing the strain to bear evenly on the slide G.

ln order to enable the clutch C to be used in coupling with cars thatvary in height, asis at times the case, especially in freight-ears theClutch C is made vertically adjustable. A tongue, D, :running in agroove, enables the clutch C 'to inove vertically on the drawbar Ewhilesaid tongue and groove hold the clutch and draw-bar together.

The clutch G is tapped i'or the reception oi' a screw-thread, Q, on ashaft, l). The shaft l? is ixed against longitudinal motion, but is freeto revolve in bearings S on the draw-bar E. A handle, wheel, or crank,R, suitably applied, enables the shaft l? to be turned,wliereby thescrew-th read Q will raise or lower the clu teh C. Various clutches canthus be adjusted at the saine level; also, by proper raising or loweringof the clutches G the clutches Can be brought to Snell diferent levelswith relation to one another as to be onbof engagement with oneanother-` The screw-thread Q can thus be operated to uneonple the ear. f

The handles R are placed so as to be readily accessible to aperson onthe ear. For enaniple, the handle R is placed near the platform of a caror near the roof of a box-car.

The screw-thread Q, is placed at one side of the clutch G, as seen, soas to bring the shaft;A

P and handle R out of tne center line of the oar. The Center line of atrain of cars is thus leftr free for passage. As the draw-bar E is swungsidewise, the shaft P moves with the draw-bar. In ease the shaft l? isof some length, it is well to steady the free end of the shaft l? bysuitable means, suoli as an arm or brace, T. The shaft P should beallowed some lateral motion in the brace T, so that the screwthread Q onthe shalt can freely move sidewise with the elutoh C.

XVhat I elaini as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in a ear-coupling, of a laterally-swingingcoupling-hook, C, and a screw, Q, ifertieally adjusting said hook andrigidly holding it in any adjusted position, substantially as described.

2. The eoinbinaiion, in a. careonpling, oi' a IOO laterally -swingingdraw bar, E, carrying a coupling-hook, C, with a screw, Q,`for\vertieally adjusting said hook and rigidly holding it in any adjustedposition, substantially 5 as described..

3. `The combination, with a hook or coupling, C, a draw-bar, E, and asuit-ably supported or guided slide, G, of a pivot, F, eenneeting thedrawfbar and slide, and springs I, 1o engaging opposite sides of theslide G, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a hook `or coupling, C, a forked draw-bar, E,and a suitably supported or guided slide, G, of a pivot, F,

I5 connecting the draw-bar and slide, and. springs I, engaging oppositesides of the slide G, substantially as setforth. i

5. The combination, with a pivot 0r hinge,

F, and adraW-bar-, E, provided with a slot, J, of a rod or bar, K,engaging the draw-bar at 2o said slot, a spring, L, actingvon saiddraw-bar, and an operating lever `or arm, M, connected to the rod K,substantially asset forth;

I testimonywliereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof tWo subseribl 25 ing Witnesses.

, RICHARD C. DOBBS. [L S.]

Vitnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KAsTENHUBER.

